| 31 Days | A Resourceful Woman

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She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. - Proverbs 31:18-19

So this Proverbs 31 woman is basically a boss. She doesn't play games, and she means business. Literally. This pair of verses send a strong message of a woman who is resourceful and also seeks various avenues in order to help provide for her family. In Christian circles, it is very easy for us to fall into the trap of believing that there is one way for family dynamics to be "healthy" and "right." We can easily think that being a Proverbs 31 woman consists of marrying the perfect man, bearing the perfect children, and maintaining the perfect friend. But my friends, that thought process simply is not true. 

In these verses, we see that this woman contributes to the financial stability of her home. She works hard and is uses the fruit of her labor to provide for her family. My desire for children and marriage is genuine. As a child, I mistakenly believed that there was one right way to maintain a home. I thought that once a woman married, she must stay home to take care of the children-working was for men. As I've grown and matured, I've seen that there is no formula. 

These verses free women from the lies that say you have to choose between a career and a family. Each woman is completely different, created with gifts and abilities unlike any other. God places desires and passions within the hearts of every woman and cultivates them, allowing her to see and believe that she can be used for His kingdom within and outside of the home. The Proverbs 31 woman is not afraid of hard work, and she is also not afraid to go against the grain in order to do what is best not only for her, but for her family members. 

Jessica MathisenComment